The Play(ing)'s The Thing

While most football players spend halftime concerning themselves with the coaches' X's and O's, Plantation High School sophomore Kevin Marley worried about treble clefs and half notes.

Marley, a 6-foot, 220-pound offensive and defensive lineman, recently helped the Colonels' reach the regional semifinals before losing 17-7 to Miami Carol City. He also helped his school's marching band receive an excellent rating at the Florida Bandmasters Association competition.

"It felt kind of weird to go out there in my football uniform," said Marley, who would take off his helmet and shoulder pads before playing the French horn and the mellophone for the Colonels' band at halftime. "I stood out really bad. The band wears blue and white and I would be wearing solid red. It was kind of awkward to be out there where everyone could see me, but I just played and went with the flow."

What made it even more uncomfortable for Marley was that he played two solos -- including one to the Beatles' Let it Be.

"What was gratifying," Marley added, "was after I played my solo and the crowd would clap, they knew it was me and I did belong there."

Football coach Frank Hepler and band director James Martin formulated a schedule allowing Marley to participate in both activities. Marley would leave football practice early on Tuesdays and stay until 6:30 p.m. with the band.

It was more difficult during the summer when the band and football team were practicing on the same day. Marley would start with the football team for the morning of the two-a-days and then head over to the band rehearsal. He would grab lunch with the football team at the school and then go back for afternoon practice.

Martin, who was Marley's band teacher at Bair Middle School in Sunrise, is in his first year as band director at Plantation.

"Kevin is incredibly self-motivated," Martin said. "I remember one time where he came off the field [and] had a bag of ice on his ankle. I told him he didn't have to march that night, and he said he would."

As the season wore on, Martin was afraid he would lose Marley full time.

"When the football team kept winning I thought I'd lose him," Martin said. "You could see he was becoming torn. I told him I wouldn't hate him if he left [the band], but I'd like him more if he stayed. He never once said, `I want to quit.' He's a great kid and the best French horn player we have. I wish I could clone him."

Hepler has been coaching football at the school for the past 20 years -- including the past 12 as head coach of the Colonels. When coaching at Barron Collier in Naples, Hepler said he saw four players put down their shoulder pads and helmets and pick up musical instruments.

"I thought that was kind of neat," Hepler said. "I always try and work with the kids."

Hepler said Marley was a scout team defensive lineman this season, but figures in his plans for next year. The Colonels graduated 20 seniors -- including three offensive linemen and two defensive linemen -- so Hepler hopes Marley can step in.

"Kevin is such an excellent kid," Hepler said. "He's got good potential to help us on both sides of the ball and he has made every effort to be a good football player."

Since Marley wasn't a starter, Hepler said it was easier to split time in football and band.

"If he still wants to do both down the road and he is a major contributor for us, then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Kevin is representing us well in both activities. When he's a senior and if he has a chance at a scholarship, he may have to decide," Hepler said.

Marley said it was tough doing both jobs on the field.

"I never really thought about band until there were two minutes left in the half," Marley said. "When I would finish with the halftime performance, I would grab one of the [defensive] linemen and ask him what coach went over."

Marley said he also made time for school work.

"My priorities are school first because without that, there would be no band, and there would be no football," Marley said.

While Marley is hoping he never has to pick one over the other, he is preparing for it. He could always just play in a college jazz band.

"I am more focused on football because I would like to be a pro and play in the NFL," Marley said.